FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Magoffin County report

["Douglas Hennig" <hennig@xxxxxxxx>]

Two more "regulars" arrived here on the ridge.  A RT Hummingbird on Saturday
and my beloved Chat today.  This morning a  female hummer also flew near our
window perhaps investigating the blooming rhododendron planted nearby.

 

Saturday also brought one of those experiences dreaded by all birders.  Mrs.
H and I were upstairs at different ends of the house when we heard a
tremendous thud.  It sounded like a large appliance had fallen over.  Those
of you that are married will appreciate this:  As we moved toward each
other, I blurted "are you all right?" while she demanded "what have you
done!"  :-)

 

I headed downstairs.  Our small home is benched into a fork ridge with a
garage at one end and two large 4' by 4.5' double pane picture windows at
the other to allow us to look down into the ravine tow or three hundred feet
below.  As I entered the room, I could see broken glass everywhere.  I then
realized that only the outer pane had been broken but that nearly all of the
glass had fallen out of the frame.

 

I peeked outside and saw a grouse on the ground about 18" away.  She(?) was
dazed and moving her head around in a circle.  Maybe five minutes she was
gone!!  We have seen 3 grouse in the front lawn at once this spring.  Sadly
over the years, other crashers (Ovenbird, KY Warbler, Cuckoo, Yellow
throated Warbler) haven't fared as well.

 

RBGs-Our flock has been growing too.  While I suggested that I stay in to
keep from scaring them away, Mrs. H reminded that there was much yard work
to do.  As I moved throughout the yard and our 4 feeders during the last 3
days the RBGs have become more and more tolerant-only flying away when I get
within 15 to 20 feet.  This morning there were 6 males in one tree waiting
for a single female to finish as she occupied a feeder by herself.

 

Larger numbers being sighted?  I continue to believe that these docile birds
may be  welcome at yards and near homes at other ends of their range.  If
others choose to feed them, why wouldn't they "layover" near homes like ours
during their migration?  In the last week or so, I've hardly seen or heard a
squabble among the group that is here.  Seems like anyone would enjoy having
them around.  Blue Jays on the other hand may not be as welcome with their
cowardly raucous ways.

 

Doug Hennig

Morgan Magoffin County Line near exit 60 of the Mt. Parkway.